As I have shared scriptures in podcasts and essays, I have come to see that some pretty straight forward verses to me are not always as plain to others. It used to be that various churches interpreted scripture differently from one another, but now days we seem to interpret them differently within the same church, or even the same families. Joseph Smith noticed the same thing when he said:
“…for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.” [i]
But different interpretation of scripture is just one problem. Perhaps a bigger problem is when we inwardly don’t believe the verse, but outwardly claim to as we recite memorized scriptures, give church addresses, and teach Sunday school lessons. James told us “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). I have been guilty of this myself at times but am realizing the more I study the scriptures, the source of my offense is rooted in culture. Pharisees and Sadducees deeply grounded in the culture of their day were certainly double minded as they preached one thing and did another (Matthew 23:2-7).
As I’ve pondered this condition in the church, I’ve come to recognize an invisible set of scriptures that many use to justify their beliefs, rather than the purer set we call our canon. This invisible set is often quoted from as if everyone knows a certain interpretation to be the obvious and only accepted interpretation in the church, and yet it is ungrounded, and such doctrines cannot be found in scripture. As I trace these thought processes back to their origins I am finding there to be more and more of these cultural dogmas.
On occasion I have heard this metaphorical book referred to as “The Unwritten Law”. My name for it is “The Cultural Law”, and if I ever get my hands on it, I will be ready with a lighter and a little gasoline just for good measure.
When I write on, and research religious themes, I try to ground my thoughts by citing scriptural sources. In the process I have found many times that my cultural beliefs overpowered true doctrine and I thankfully stood corrected by my appeal to scripture. I write this and other essays with the hope of bringing scriptures back as a primary focus to my readers, keeping in mind that the only source better is personal revelation.
I would like to show some verses of scripture that have individually empowering messages, but which I have either heard people literally change through their own interpretation, or whose actions and comments clearly indicated they did not believe the verse. These verses don’t seem to be skewed by only a few individuals but seem to be disbelieved or misinterpreted on a collective, cultural, subconscious level.
I would like to further point out that these cultural disbeliefs and interpretations are not necessarily endorsed by leaders in the church – in fact, I feel that at least some leaders are aware of these cultural views and are taking some measures to correct them, or at least I hope they are.
- “If
any of youcertain among you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth toallselected men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). - “And by the power of the Holy
Ghost ye may know the truth of
allcertain limited things (Moroni 10:5). - “Then Peter
opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God
is no respecter of personsrespects His children to the degree of their righteousness or position” (Acts 10:34). - “We believe that through
the Atonement of Christ,
all mankindthose who live perfectly may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.” – Article of Faith 3 - “And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God
that
allselected men of the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29). - “We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth” (Except not really – because people who do those things are crazy, eccentric, or deceived, and these gifts really only apply to selected men, and are not for average members) – (Article of Faith #7).
- Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh, except for certain men; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh, (except some flesh is okay). Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm (except trusting in some flesh is okay)[ii] (2 Nephi 4:34).
- “… it becometh
every manselected men who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.” (D&C 88:81). - “… it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor – in matters pertaining to sin, not related to physical danger or upcoming calamities” (D&C 88:81). Note: The bolded text was once spoken to me by a priesthood leader in my line of authority.
If any of this seems satirical or disrespectful, please know if I am directing judgment against anyone at all, it is toward the cancerous culture of our collective making, and not toward any person, group of people, or organization.
There will be those who interpret what has been written here to mean that I do not sustain the prophets and apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This assumption is false. I sustain these fifteen men as prophets, seers, and revelators as they act in unison according to God’s will, in accordance with established process of general church revelation by comment consent[iii].
I am certain that there is a general cultural belief that these men are not able to speak in error[iv]. Joseph Smith Jr. and other early leaders of this dispensation preached against this sort of thinking[v]. I know for myself that it is not wrong to believe any one of these men can speak without the inspiration of the Holy Ghost[vi], while still raising our hands in sustaining vote; which sustaining vote I intend to continue to give as their messages continue to align with the will of heaven.
It is true that there is often dual meaning, symbolism, and metaphors embedded in scripture, but there is always a simplistic and direct meaning as well. May we believe the scriptures as they were written, in their pure and simplistic form, and recognize when cultural beliefs have created unnecessary limitations and expectations that are not in harmony with scripture and the essence and character of God.
(Please consider looking at the insightful footnotes from prophets and apostles below)
[i] Joseph Smith History 1:12
[ii] “Do not, brethren, put your trust in man though he be a bishop; an apostle, or a president; if you do, they will fail you at some time or place, they will do wrong or seem to, and your support be gone; but if we lean on God, He never will fail us. When men and women depend on God alone, and trust in Him alone, their faith will not be shaken if the highest in the Church should step aside. They could still see that He is just and true, that truth is lovely in His sight, and the pure in heart are dear to Him. Perhaps it is His own design that faults and weaknesses should appear in high places in order that His Saints may learn to trust in Him and not in any man or men. Therefore, my brethren and sisters, seek after the Holy Spirit and His unfailing testimony of God and His work upon the earth. Rest not until you know for yourselves that God has set His hand to redeem Israel, and prepare a people for His coming.” – George Q. Cannon, Need For Personal Testimonies, (15 February 1891), Collected Discourses 2:178. See Millennial Star 53:658–659, 673–675.
[iii] “The only way I know of by which the teachings of any person or group may become binding upon the church is if the teachings have been reviewed by all the brethren, submitted of the highest councils of the church, and then approved by the whole body of the church…I do not doubt that the brethren have often spoken under inspiration and given new emphasis—perhaps even a new explanation or interpretation—of church doctrine, but that does not become binding upon the church unless and until it is submitted to the scrutiny of the rest of the brethren and later to the vote of the people. Again, we are only bound by the four standard works and are not required to defend what any man or woman says outside of them.” – Hugh B. Brown cited in Edwin B. Firmage (ed.), An Abundant Life: The Memoirs of Hugh B. Brown (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1988), 124; cited in Dennis B. Horne (ed.), Determining Doctrine: A Reference Guide for Evaluation Doctrinal Truth (Roy, Utah: Eborn Books, 2005), 272–73.
[iv] “If I should say something which is contrary to that which is written and approved by the Church generally, no one is under obligation to accept it. Everything that I say and everything that any other person says must square itself with that which the Lord has revealed, or it should be rejected.” – Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954–56), 1:322
[v] “The First Presidency cannot claim, individually or collectively, infallibility. The infallibility is not given to men. They are fallible.” – George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth, 1:206
“We must all learn to depend upon God and upon Him alone. Why, the very man upon whom we think we can rely with unbounded confidence, and trust with all we possess, may disappoint us sometimes, but trust in God and He never fails. The men who hold the Priesthood are but mortal men; they are fallible men. … No human being that ever trod this earth was free from sin, excepting the Son of God.” – George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth, 215
[vi] “There have been rare occasions when even the President of the Church in his preaching and teaching has not been ‘moved upon by the Holy Ghost.’ You will recall the Prophet Joseph declared that a prophet is not always a prophet….This has happened about matters of doctrine (usually of a highly speculative character) where a subsequent President of the Church and the people themselves have felt that in declaring the doctrine, the announcer was not ‘moved upon by the Holy Ghost’. How shall the Church know when these adventurous expeditions of the brethren into these highly speculative principles and doctrines meet the requirements of the statutes that the announcers thereof have been ‘moved upon by the Holy Ghost’? The Church will know by the testimony of the Holy Ghost in the body of the members, whether the brethren in voicing their views are ‘moved upon by the Holy Ghost’; and in due time that knowledge will be made manifest.” – J. Reuben Clark, “When Are the Writings or Sermons of Church Leaders Entitled to the Claim of Scripture,” Address given to seminary and institute teachers, at BYU, on July 7, 1954, published in Church News (July 31, 1954): 9–10; reprinted in Dialogue 12 (Summer 1979), 68–80
Thanks again Eric!
Thanks Eric!
Thank you Eric. Wonderful explanation. Lidia
Thank you Lidia!
I suspect when you burn “The Cultural Law,” you’ll be igniting the gasoline, not with a lighter, but with a Flaming Sword!
I’ll reiterate one point of your post with a slightly embarrassing confession. I initially wrote my comment saying that you’d light the gasoline with a “Flaming Sword of Truth” (since you are such a powerful champion of truth). But a search of the scriptures doesn’t support the idea of a flaming sword of truth. (Everybody else probably already knows this, and I’m just displaying my personal gaffe.)
The armor of God scriptures (Eph. 6:13-17, D&C 27:15-18) talk about “loins being girt about with truth,” and “the sword of the/my Spirit.” Scriptures speak of a flaming sword (not “of truth”) keeping the way of the Tree of Life following the Fall (Gen. 3:24, Moses 4:31, Alma 12:21, 42:2-3). “Let Us All Press On” encourages wielding “the mighty sword of truth” (Hymn 243). Somehow I mis-merged the phrases and came up with “the flaming sword of truth,” which sounds like it could be scriptural, but actually isn’t.
So I totally agree with you, that we need to read the scriptures carefully, believe what they say, and not create our own versions of the scriptures!
Actually, you were initially correct to say a “Flaming Sword of Truth”, as can be shown in these words of Christ:
“For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”(D&C 84)
Word of the Lord=Truth=Light=Spirit=Spirit of Jesus Christ
The Spirit can only communicate truth, nothing else. We can be told of the lies of Satan, but the Spirit will not lie to us.
Truth can be flaming both to the wicked and the righteous. Flaming for the wicked because they “taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center”( 1 Nephi 16:2), and for the righteous because they are able to be sanctified and burned of their impurities. This is described in 3 Nephi 24:2-5 and Malachi 3:2-5:
“But who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap.
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”
This means that the righteous gain more light, become brighter, and more glorious as they accept more truth.
Thank you, Caleb!! You’re my hero for the day! 🙂 I appreciate you making those connections for me. I’ll be writing those cross references in my scriptures today.
So Eric, go pyro with The Flaming Sword of Truth! Let’s get rid of “The Cultural Law”!
The image of a flaming sword is MUCH better than a lighter!! Hahaha! Thanks for having some fun with this RayDean! Sure appreciate you and your great attitude!
Eric,
In connection to your wish to help burn “The Cultural Law” will you ever do any more blog posts like those on your old Hebrew blog?
Hi Caleb. I’d love to. Sometimes I need a word or concept to light my fire… got one in mind?
Eric, sorry for late reply. I think a post on angles/seraphim/cherubim would be interesting, especially with the all the talk of “burning”. As well as “the angel of the LORD”
And another question :). Have you read any of Avraham Gileadi’s books?
Thank you for bringing these things to light, I know you are inspired and speak truth.
Thanks for your kindness Traci!
Thanks, Eric. Great insights. I’ve been taught these lessons many times over throughout my life. The arm of flesh will fail, the arm of the Lord will not. Truth can be found everywhere. Truth is taught to me by the holy ghost and I’m learning to hear/feel/see his voice even as our comes to me through another’s words.
Your words have been comforting, confirming and inspiring. I feel to so and be better in my scripture study. Thank you!
I love hearing what the spirit taught you through reading this. That’s far more important than what I wrote. Thanks Suzanne!
Oh Eric. This subject not only brings personal revelation relief it brought me to giggles… You are such a marvelous compiler of both observations and facts.
Thank you so very much.
Thanks Geraldine! It’s better to have some fun with these serious topics huh? Sure appreciate you taking time to read and comment!
Couldn’t agree with you more Eric, thanks for sharing your very astute thoughts. The separation of the cultural “ church” and the followers of-the gospel of Jesus Christ is in process in my opinion. And I love the imagery of a flaming sword of truth!🥰
Wow!! You nailed it…
I have seen this from day’s serving a mission, and even in Bishopric’s. It’s sad we are at this point!! But, exciting that the Lord is ready to correct the course. Thanks!! for your amazing insight.
Thank you for your insight and your courage to share!
It is appreciated!
“Except not really” And “some flesh is okay” made me giggle! Thank you for your insights Eric and for taking me to the lighter side of what is a serious topic. You strike a perfect balance! I am grateful for your dedication to truth and your willingness to share it.
Eric, such wonderful encouragement to get right with God and to listen to the quite whisperings of the Spirit. Culture and tradition have become such entrenched aspects of gospel living. Now, I can see where good habits and traditions have their place, but when we can’t see beyond them they become a stumbling block.
Thank you for that. It’s sad that so many people in the church refuse to listen to anyone else about what’s going to happen in the future. I need not read any further than a particular LDS facebook group I’m on that many keep on harping that we should only be listening to the prophet and the apostles for revelation from the Lord. They completely ignore Acts 2:17 ‘…your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:’ There are many Sadducees within the church.
Culture can be a great driving force when it accurately reflects the truths and tenants of an organization. However culture is very hard to consistently maintain overtime, especially over multiple of decades/centuries. Can a culture be changed and reformed? Yes. But history has shown that, with few exceptions, there is a dear price to be paid. Perhaps the tribulations and trials foretold in the scriptures during the last days will do just that – as painful as it may be. Thanks for gathering and disseminating this information Eric.
Thanks Eric! This so beautifully puts my feelings into words. I finally feel validated.
Hi,
This isn’t a question about this post, but I’ve been listening to your youtube videos on multiple probations (thank you by the way), and I have a question, and didn’t know how else to reach you with this question (so I’m giving this a try):
with multiple probations – why are we then doing baptisms for the dead (if technically, they can come back to earth and learn again, or learn for the first time, about the gospel and be baptized in the flesh? Are we making these eternal convenants multiple times (repeatedly)?
Thank you for your help,
Sofia
I have been judged about things I said and that it was of the devil and don’t say another thing. Maybe I didn’t get my words out right but I knew that it was true. I think it is wonderful when people share but some can’t understand that your the one to get to share it Or they never heard of it before so it must be fakse. Another thought, I wonder how many members today would be members if they were in attendance during the Life of Joseph Smith?? The things he taught were and are very new and different to doctrines of the mindset of the times. Yet today many are in a mindset. instead of enjoying the chance of gaining the knowledge we are promised if we shall seek, knock, and ask.
I determined several years ago as I was learning about certain topics like energy balancing and laws of the universe, which felt like truth, to anchor myself in scripture. I have loved them since a young preteen. As I was learning about these new ideas, I felt a strong pull to refer to scriptures as my compass and personal revelation to guide my study and “experimenting” upon what I was learning. There are false versions of these things for sure, because we live in a world of duality/opposition. However, as I searched and studied, I found that not only does scripture, history and the spirit provide confidence in these things, it showed me that recognizing the true source of power and creation, God and Jesus Christ, and using them with pure intention is absolutely essential. Like anything, a virtue can be made or become a vice, when truth is not the foundation. I have realized that much of the culture of the LDS church may not embrace these things, however the scriptures do. Moroni 7 has been a great strength to me in determining truth and goodness.
I love that you included that there are scriptures we read and say we believe, yet do not apply them to ourselves personally. This is something the spirit has taught me over and over. Why do people not believe they can access, nurture and develop the spiritual gifts we are told plainly are ours… for the benefit of mankind?
My eyes welled with tears as I read and my heart was filled. From a fellow seeker of truth, thank you for your courage and clarity.
Eric I recently read ” Women, Priesthood, and the awful monster of traditional belief ”and I was so impressed that I prayerfully took it to the Lord. The impression and much thought that followed was intriguing. Maybe the reason God has allowed women to fall back into the back stage may well be to protect them remember in revelations where he talks about the dragon going after the pregnant women who was hidden in the wilderness to protect her until the child was born. ( Stopping here to say that women has an integral nurturing and empathetic nature, they think deeper pray harder and are infinitly more inately spiritual by nature.) The child being protected could be the last of the last days secret spiritual warfare weapon, that of women afficeating fully in and of the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God as being the only method of rallying a power so great as to defeat saton short of The Savior Himself and being capable of raising mortals to a level of purity so as to face the Savior and welcome him when he comes. I’m afraid that if Heavenly Father leaves it up to men we are in for a real struggle.